Pollen morphology and its relation with meiotic irregularities in ten species of Campuloclinium (Eupatorieae,Asteraceae)

Pollen grains of ten species of Campuloclinium (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae) are described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The species included in this study are C. burchelli, C. campuloclinioides, C. chlorolepis, C. hirsutum, C. irwinii, C. macrocephalum, C. megacephalum, C. parvulum, C. purpurascens and C. riedelli. Pollen grains of Campuloclinium are typically radially symmetric, echinate, tectate, oblate-spheroidal to prolate-spheroidal (P/E ratio: 0.94–1.10). Pollen is mostly triaperturate, but tetraaperturate or biaperturate pollen also occurs in some species. The pollen diameter was highly variable ranging from 10.54 µm to 36.18 μm. The significance of the variation in type and size of pollen is discussed in relation to diverse meiotic abnormalities and possible reproductive apomictic processes within the polyploid species.     

ABNORMAL POLLEN VACUOLATION1 (APV1) is required for male fertility by contributing to anther cuticle and pollen exine formation in maize

Anther cuticle and pollen exine are the major protective barriers against various stresses. The proper functioning of genes expressed in the tapetum is vital for the development of pollen exine and anther cuticle. In this study, we report a tapetum‐specific gene, Abnormal Pollen Vacuolation1 (APV1), in maize that affects anther cuticle and pollen exine formation. The apv1 mutant was completely male sterile. Its microspores were swollen, less vacuolated, with a flat and empty anther locule. In the mutant, the anther epidermal surface was smooth, shiny, and plate‐shaped compared with the three‐dimensional crowded ridges and randomly formed wax crystals on the epidermal surface of the wild‐type. The wild‐type mature pollen had elaborate exine patterning, whereas the apv1 pollen surface was smooth. Only a few unevenly distributed Ubisch bodies were formed on the apv1 mutant, leading to a more apparent inner surface. A significant reduction in the cutin monomers was observed in the mutant. APV1 encodes a member of the P450 subfamily, CYP703A2‐Zm, which contains 530 amino acids. APV1 appeared to be widely expressed in the tapetum at the vacuolation stage, and its protein signal co‐localized with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signal. RNA‐Seq data revealed that most of the genes in the fatty acid metabolism pathway were differentially expressed in the apv1 mutant. Altogether, we suggest that APV1 functions in the fatty acid hydroxylation pathway which is involved in forming sporopollenin precursors and cutin monomers that are essential for the development of pollen exine and anther cuticle in maize.     

不同品种烟草花粉电子显微镜观察

通过对10个烤烟品种、8个晒烟品种、2个野生种的花粉进行扫描电子显微镜观察,发现同为烤烟或晒烟的烟草,其花粉的形态、大小、外壁纹饰比较稳定。野生烟在供试种中具有独特的细网状外壁纹饰,是鉴别野生烟与非野生烟的一条有效途径。     

Effects of high-temperature stress on microsporogenesis in heat-sensitive and heat-tolerant genotypes of Phaseolus vulgaris

High ambient temperature (32/27 °C, day/night, 12 h photoperiod) applied prior to anthesis to Phaseolus vulgaris plants results in abnormal pollen and anther development during microsporogenesis. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine anther and pollen morphology and pollen wall architecture after heat stress was applied to two genotypes that differ with respect to yield potential under high‐temperature field conditions: one, a heat‐sensitive, Mesoamerican genotype, A55, the second, a heat‐tolerant, Andean genotype, G122. High‐temperature treatment of both genotypes was applied 1–13 d before anthesis. Under heat stress, the heat‐tolerant genotype showed anther and pollen characteristics that were generally similar to the low temperature controls. In contrast, after 9 d of heat treatment before anthesis, the anthers of the heat‐sensitive genotype were indehiscent and contained abnormal pollen. Pollen wall architecture was also affected in the 12 and 13 d treatments. In addition to the morphological changes, the heat‐sensitive genotype also experienced reduced pollen viability and reduced yield in high‐temperature experiments conducted in both the greenhouse and field.     

Pollen Morphology and Generic Phylogenetic Relationships in Ophiopogonoideae (Liliaceae)

In the present work, pollen grains of 3 species of Liriope, 24 species of Ophiopogon and 2 species of Peliosanthes were examined under scanning electron microscope, Among them 4 species were also observed under transmission electron microscope. The observation (Table 3)shows that Liriope and Ophiopogon distinctly differ from Peliosanthes in the exine ornamentation and structure, They may be divided into two types: 1. Rugulate-perforate, ektexine with perforate tectum in Liriope and Ophiopogon. 2. Verrucate, Verracae unequal in size, ektexine intectate in Peliosanthes. Pollen morphology shows the close affinity between Liriope and Ophiopogon, but they are very far from Peliosanthes. The correlation between pollen and gross morphology in Liriope, Ophiopogon and Peliosanthes are stated and their evolutionaly trends are discussed in this paper. The pollen characters support the placement of Liriope and Ophiopogon in one tribe—Ophiopogoneae, and Peliosanthes in another tribe—Peliosantheae. Peliosanthes is more advancedthan Liriope and Ophiopogon.     

Shape and Size Modification of Recent Pollen Grains under Acetolysis

In this paper, the shape and size modification of recent pollen grains have been studied. 63 species of recent pollen grains that belongs to 55 genera, 26 families were observed before and after the acetolysis treatment with LM. The length of polar axis and equatorial axis and the thickness of exine were measured from about 20 pollen grains for each species (the thickness of exine were only measured for acetolysed pollen grains). The significance of shape and size modification was examined with the statistical method "ttest". From this investigati0n it can be concluded that: The pollen modification in size and shape 'was related to aperture type, pollen size, wall thickness and sculpture depth. Pantoporate, spheroidal pollens and small perporlate pollens usually change little in there size and shape after acetolysis. The size of colpate pollens was generally increased, or their shape changed. The size or shape change usually got bigger as the pollen size, wall thickness and sculpture depth became bigger and bigger. Oblate pollens were apter to change their size and shape than prolate pollens. The P/E ratio of most colpate pollens became a little bigger after acetolysis.     

南水青冈属及壳斗科其他属花粉壁超微结构比较研究

对主要分布于南美和新西兰的南水青冈属Nothofagus 花粉外壁的超微结构进行了观察和研究, 同时与壳斗科其他属花粉外壁的结构进行比较,结果表明,南水青冈属花粉外壁的厚度、结构、萌发孔类 型以及花粉外壁表面的纹饰与壳斗科其他属花粉外壁的超微结构存在明显差别。主要表现为：南水青 冈属花粉外壁的柱状层和内层发育差,为颗粒状;基层和覆盖层无分化结构;覆盖层上为刺状纹饰;萌发 孔为5～8沟。壳斗科其他属花粉外壁的小柱发育好,形成明显的柱状层;覆盖层和基层常具一定的结 构;花粉表面较光滑,或为波状、颗粒或瘤状纹饰;内层发育较好;多数花粉具3孔沟,少数为3沟或3拟 孔沟。本研究认为南水青冈属花粉外壁的结构属于较原始类型,支持kuprianova等将南水青冈属独立为南壳斗科。     

北美洲当归属(伞形科)植物花粉形态特征研究

花粉形态特征可为伞形科当归属的分类鉴定与亲缘关系研究提供重要依据;北美洲当归属植物是该属的重要分支分群,但其花粉学研究却鲜受关注。为进一步充实孢粉学研究资料,使用光学显微镜与扫描电子显微镜对北美洲当归属26种44个居群的花粉形态和外壁纹饰进行观察,并用SketchUp软件对花粉极轴及赤道轴长度、体积指数和纹饰密度等特征进行测量分析和定量定义。研究结果显示:(1)供试花粉包含椭圆形、近长方形、超长方形与超长方形(赤道缢缩)4种形状;(2)花粉极轴长度为21.1~32.0μm,赤道轴长度为10.6~17.1μm,极轴与赤道轴的比值为1.5~2.8,体积指数为15.8~23.3;(3)花粉赤道区外壁纹饰分为3类,包括长条状脑纹、短棒状脑纹以及片状脑纹,排列或密集或稀疏,其中3个物种的纹饰在极区变平滑;(4)根据上述形态特征,可将供试花粉划分为4级3大类15小类。研究结果表明,总体上北美洲当归属植物花粉的形态特征的多态性低于东亚当归属植物;花粉形状与赤道区外壁纹饰具有较高的种内一致性,花粉中部是否凸出以及纹饰类型、密集程度、附属物等特征则存在一定程度的种内差异。该研究进一步充实了当归属的孢粉学研究资料,花粉形态特征能够为该类群的分类鉴定与亲缘关系研究提供重要依据,可作为形态分类学和分子分类学的有力补充。     

Palynological Features as a Systematic Marker in Artemisia L. and Related Genera (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) - II: Implications for Subtribe Artemisiinae Delimitation

Abstract: Using optical and scanning electron microscopy, we completed a palynological study of the subtribe Artemisiinae (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), which we started in a previous paper. This subtribe contains different genera with a systematic position that, in many cases, has been controversial. There is a group of genera closely related to Artemisia, and another one more related to Chrysanthemum sensu lato. We confirm the existence of two pollen morphological patterns - concerning exine ornamentation - in the tribe Anthemideae and in the subtribe Artemisiinae as currently considered: one with long spines ( Anthemis type) and the other with short spinules ( Artemisia type). This feature is a good taxonomic marker, well correlated with other morphological and with molecular characters. This enables a new delimitation of the subtribe Artemisiinae, which is characterized by pollen grain ornamentation constituted by short spinules (microechinate pollen), and should be restricted to Artemisia and the closely related genera that share this trait.